How to draw your own selfie — using your personal data

Designer Giorgia Lupi wants to change the way we think about data — far from being cold facts and...

Watch: A cellular biologist animates the life cycle of HIV in this hypnotic video

Animated and narrated by Janet Iwasa (Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah)  ...

Want to fight climate change? Educate a girl

It’s that simple. Making sure that girls around the world can go to school helps them and their...

These kids build tiny houses, chicken coops — and life skills

A new curriculum makes design-build projects into a part of every student’s education. How can a...

The 5 types of mentors you need in your life

Here’s how to assemble your personal dream team, with tips from business expert Anthony Tjan....

Here’s the real danger that Facebook, Google and the other tech monopolies pose to our society

Most people fear and loathe monopolies because they dominate their categories or markets and...

How to exit a conversation without being a jerk

Kio Stark loves to talk to strangers — but she knows every exchange started is one that must be...

7 strategies to keep your phone from taking over your life

Raúl Soria We’re distracted like never before — and our phones are probably the biggest culprit....

How playing Dungeons & Dragons has helped me be more connected, creative and compassionate

Power doesn’t just come from having money or lifting weights — you can gain strengths and...

What is life like under the sea?

The ocean covers roughly 71% of our planet’s surface, and is by far the most dominant feature of...

Why you think you’re right, even when you’re wrong

Are you a soldier or a scout? Your answer to this question, says decision-making expert Julia...

How to build closer relationships

Advice from 7 TED speakers on creating better connections. “Why don’t I feel closer to my...

Quiz: How much do you really know about the pencil?

You’ve probably used and discarded hundreds of pencils in your life so far. Put your knowledge to...

Want to boost your creativity and be a better collaborator? Think about why the sky is blue

Stretch your mind and strengthen your relationships with this simple exercise borrowed from...

How the story you tell about yourself affects your life

We’ve all created our own personal histories, marked by highs and lows, that we share with the...

Why working from home should be standard practice

“ And if your boss is on the fence, here’s a compelling case study — from economics professor...

Has your mom said she doesn’t have a favorite child? That’s probably a lie.

Sociologist Jill Suitor studies the truth about moms and their kids — and the surprising effects...

What plastic item would you love to ban? 15 ocean experts (and TED speakers) tell us.

Yes, plastic straws are bad, but they’re just a teeny drop in the giant ocean of plastic we’re...

Can you pass this mythology quiz?

How much do you know about mythology? See how well you rank with our 10-question quiz:  ...

Activism isn’t just for adults and teens. We need to teach younger kids to be activists, too.

If we want our children to grow up to be thoughtful and engaged citizens, we should help them be...

5 game-changing TED Talks about education

All over the world, there’s growing consensus that our education systems are broken. Here...

Quiz: Do you know how the U.S. government works?

To prepare for the upcoming July 4th holiday, test your knowledge of US history and see how well...

Why we owe it to ourselves to spend quiet time alone every day

By not giving ourselves the minutes — or hours — free of devices and distractions, we risk losing...

What if you could get WiFi and school tuition in exchange for your plastic trash?

You can — at a visionary social enterprise called Plastic Bank, which is not only improving...